John R. DelaneyD-Link Wi-Fi Motion Sensor (DCH-S150)The D-Link Wi-Fi Motion Sensor (DCH-S150) will alert you when motion is detected, but if you want it to trigger other devices in your home, your options are limited.

The D-Link Wi-Fi Motion Sensor (DCH-S150) will alert you when motion is detected, but if you want it to trigger other devices in your home, your options are limited.

Joining the Wi-Fi Smart Plug as the foundation of D-Link's new connected home series of devices, the $39.99 D-Link Wi-Fi Motion Sensor (DCH-S150) tracks movement in your home and offers basic home automation capabilities using your existing Wi-Fi network. It can be paired with the Smart Plug to turn on lights, fans, and other small electronics, and you can create schedules to accommodate your daily routine. But it doesn't work with any of D-Link's Wi-Fi cameras, and it doesn't support If This Then That (IFTTT) recipes. Additionally, the installation process can be frustrating.

Design and InstallationMeasuring just 2.3 by 2.1 by 1.7 inches (HWD), the DCH-S150 is small enough that it doesn't block access to the second socket in a two-socket outlet. The diminutive white cube plugs into any two-pronged 110-volt power outlet and has a round sensor lens protruding from the front. The right side holds a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button, a Reset button, and a Wi-Fi indicator light. The DCH-S150 supports 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi networks, and the Passive Infra Red (PIR) sensor has a maximum range of 26 feet.

In my tests, installing the Motion Sensor was not as easy as it should have been. After installing the mydlink Home app, I followed the onscreen instructions by plugging in the sensor and changing my iPad's Wi-Fi setting to match the sensor's SSID. Then I went back to the app, clicked Add a Device, and entered the PIN number located on the back of the sensor. Up to this point everything was going smoothly, but when I reconnected to my home Wi-Fi and returned to the app, the sensor was not listed as a connected device, nor could I find the sensor's SSID in my network list. Using a paper clip, I hit the Reset button and held it until the light turned red. I was then able to see the sensor's SSID in my Wi-Fi settings, and tried, unsuccessfully, to add it to the mydlink app.

It took several tries and close to half an hour to get the sensor to complete the installation successfully. Once it did, I was informed that a firmware update was needed, which I initiated. The update only took around eight minutes, and when it was done I was finally good to go.

App and PerformanceYou can control the DCH-S150 using your iOS or Android mobile device, but there is currently no Web application that lets you control it from a PC. The sensor uses the mydlink Home app (which also lets you control the D-Link Smart Plug) and displays a list of all of your mydlink connected devices, including cameras, on the My Devices page.

Clicking on the DCH-S150 sensor icon opens the Settings page, where you can enable motion detection, adjust sensitivity, and create a schedule that lets you choose which days of the week the sensor will be active, as well as start and end times. This lets you deactivate the sensor at times when you know someone will be home, and create a custom schedule for when you're away for extended periods of time. To have the sensor trigger an action, go to the My Actions page, select New Rule, and choose the sensor as your trigger. Available actions are limited to sending a push alert or turning on or off a device that is plugged into an installed D-Link Smart Plug.

The DCH-S150 doesn't currently work with D-Link cameras such as the Pan & Tilt Day/Night Network Cloud Camera DCS-5020L or the DCS-2330L. However, according to D-Link, support for a number of cameras is in the works, including a feature that will send a snapshot or a video clip when the camera detects motion. As of now, the sensor will send a push alert to your mobile device when motion is detected, but it won't send email alerts (though email support is also forthcoming). Also missing is support for IFTTT recipes, which let you create triggers based on Internet activities using services such as Foursquare, Facebook, ESPN, Twitter, and more.

Once the DCH-S150 was installed, it performed admirably. I received a push notification each time I entered the room where I installed the sensor, and it followed the trigger rule I created to turn on a light plugged into my Smart Plug. However, there was no option to have the light turn off again if there was no motion detected, a useful feature that you get with the SmartThings motion sensor. The sensor also followed my schedule that had it go inactive from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays when somebody is usually home.

ConclusionThe D-Link Wi-Fi Motion Sensor (DCH-S150) works well, and once you've gone through the setup process, it's easy enough to use and provides a relatively inexpensive way to keep track of the comings and goings in your house without having to install a home automation hub. However, if you want to use it to trigger lights and other electronics, you'll need to purchase a $50 Smart Plug for each device or wait for D-Link to add support for cameras. If you're looking for a more robust motion detection system, our Editors' Choice for home automation systems, the SmartThings Hub, works with numerous Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and Z-Wave wireless devices including locks and thermostats, and it also supports IFTTT recipes. Granted, the SmartThings multi-device kit will cost you around $300, and like the D-Link Motion Sensor, it doesn't currently offer camera support, but it comes with two presence sensors, two door/window sensors, a smart power outlet, a motion sensor, and a hub that lets them all communicate seamlessly.

About the Author

As a Contributing Editor for PCMag, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, TVs, PCs, networking and smart home gear, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for almost 20 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of t... See Full Bio

D-Link Wi-Fi Motion Sensor (DCH-S150)

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